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J. C. STEARNS AND F. A. CULVER.

COMBINED IGNITION AND LIGHTING SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I6, I919.

1,369, 1 40.- Patented Feb. 22, 192 1.

Inven iova 15 (7615071 csieavnd UNITED sures PA 'I ENT OFFICE.

JASON C. STEABNS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, AND FRED A. CULVEB, OF

DETROIT. MICHIGAN.

COMBINED IGNITION AND LIGHTING SWITCH.

Application filed July 16, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JASON C. STEARNS and FRED A. CULVER, citizens ofthe United States, said STEARNS residing at the city and county ofWorcester, State of Massachusetts, said CULVER residing at Detroit, inthe county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new anduseful Combined Ignition and Lighting Switch, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in the ordinary type of switchadapted for connecting several circuits, for example, the ignition andlighting circuits on automobiles and the like.

The principal objects of the invention are to simplify and improve thespring contacts both on the ignition and lighting circuits, and soarrange and construct them as to make a positive contact, a smoothworking switch and make a completed switch of minimum depth, to provideimproved means for lockin the ignition circuit; to provide flexibilityin changing the arrangement of the circuit; to provide improvedappearance and visibilit of the markings of the face plate; to provideimproved means for arranging a multiplicity of contact points on theswitch without exposing any terminals on the back except the wireterminals.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyin drawings, in which Figure 1 1sa front elevation of a switch to which this invention is to be applied;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the second plate with the connectionsthereon;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the same plate showing the connections;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation of two oscillating plates and theirelectrical connections which constitute a part of this invention;

Fig. 6 is a similar elevation of the part of the switch that is left,when the larger plate shown in Fig. 5 is removed, and

Fig. 7 is a central sectional view through the axis of the switch.

Figs. 1, 3 and 4 show merely a switch having connections that are commonin this art, and to which this invention is applied. The are shown heresimply for the purpose of illustrating how the invention can be used. Itis to be understood that the switch is rovided ordinarily forcontrolling two series of circuits, one series being for theSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

Serial No. 811,258.

ignition, the other for lighting. One of these is controlled by a key,the other by a handle.

The switch is mounted in a metallic casing 10 and is provided with aback plate 11 and second plate 12 parallel to it. These two plates areof hard rubber or other insulating material. They are fastened to asurrounding flange 9 on the casing 10 and are provided with a series ofterminals as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. These terminals are made bymetallic studs extending throu h the plate 12 which are connected bymeta ic strips between the two plates in certain ways as indicated inFig. 3. Some of the studs are swaged to plate 12 only, as shown in F i3, while other studs are swaged through bot plates 11 and 12 as shown inFig. 2. It is to be observed that there are two circular series of theseplugs and they are located one inside and the other outside, as iscommon in this industry. It is to be understood that these plates 11 and12 are stationary, and are connected up with the circuit in a certainwell known manner and the thing to be accomplished is to provide meansby which the circuits can be connected and disconnected as usual.

On the front is a handle 13 which controls the lighting circuit. This isoscillated by hand in ordinary practice and is connected with a circuitmember 14 which has two projections 16 extending through arcuate slots19 in the flat end of the casing 10. By means of screws these rojectionsare connected with an oscillating insulating plate 15 mounted inside thecasing. This plate is operated directly by the turning of the handle 13as will be understood readil This plate 15 as shown more fully in F ig.5 is provided with two spring connecting members 17 which havecup-shaped convex terminals 18. These springs are held down to the plateat their centers and the terminals 18 spring outwardly so as to engagethe front surface of the plate 12 or any contacts of the outer serieslocated in proper position to be engaged by them. The two springconnecting members 17 may control separate circuits or combine severalcircuits in one by connecting with a metal strip on the reverse side ofthe oscillating plate or lightin rotor 15.

n stationary position with respect to the casing 10 is a metallicbushing 20. Inside this is a cylinder having a key hole 22 for receivingthe key of the tumbler lock. This key is designed to turn cylinder 28inside metallic bushing 20. To this member is secured by means of screwsor dowels an internal oscillating plate 24. The manner of itsoscillation will be obvious. This plate 24 is provided with two slots ornotches 25 for the reception of two projections 26 on a spring 27. Thisspring is held on the plate 24 by this means and it projects up at bothsides from a position of contact with the plate at the center so thatits ends 38 engage the front side of the plate 12 and' engage the innerseries of contacts thereon in accordance with the position to which theplate 24 is turned by the key.

The plate 24 is provided with a double arcuate contacting spring 27,terminated by two shoulders 29 at its ends. Fixedly mounted on the plate12, is a stationary stud 30 which may be in the form of a pin or thelike. This is located in such position that the shoulders 29 come intocontact with it when the plate 24 is turned to either one of its extremepositions. Thus it limits the 0scillating motion of this plate 24.

In addition to these features we have shown the tumbler lock members 31,a square flange 32 outside the casing 10 and fixed to it, as

7 well as a circular border 34 on the outside and a name plate 41fastened to the face of the switch inside the border 34 with the desiredmarkings etched thereon.

In the operation of the device it will be understood that in its normalposition as shown in Fig. 1 the terminals 18 of the lower connectingmember 17 press on the two plugs or terminals 36 and that the twoterminals 18 of the upper one rest on two terminals 37. Also while inthis position the terminals 38 of the member 27 rest respectively on theplugs 39 and 40. Then the parts are in this position no current willflow in either circuit, because of: the connections with which theseplugs are provided and which are not described herein in detail. Butupon the turning of the handle 13 or the key the corresponding set oi?connectors inside will turn about the center, so that they will connectwith different plugs in the instrument. The members 17 and 27 are ofsuch a nature as to greatly simplify the construction and reduce expensefor material and the possibility of repairs. The assembling of the partsis materially simplified also.

Although we have illustrated and described only a single form of theinvention we are aware of the fact that many modifications can be madetherein, by any person skilled in the art, without departing from thescope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore we do notwish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown anddescribed, but what we do claim is 1. In a lock switch of the characterdescribed, the combination with an insulating plate having terminalstherein, of two independent oscillatable insulating plates arrangedparallel to the first named plate and having spring members thereon,each spring member having free ends adapted to engage said terminalswhen turned to certain positions, and tumbler lock connected with theinner of said oscillatable plates.

2. 111 a cou'lbination switch of the character described, thecombination with an insulating plate having terminals thereon arrangedin two concentric series, of two concentric independently oscillatableinsulating plates both mounted in the same plane and arranged parallelto the first named plate and having spring members thereon, each springmember having two free ends adapted to engage certain terminals of oneseries.

3. In a lock switch of the haracter described, the combination with aninsulating plate having terminals thereon, of two independentlyoscillatable insulating plates arranged parallel to the first namedplate and each having a spring member thereon, each spring member havingtwo free ends adapted to engage said terminals when turned to certainpositions, a tumbler lock connected with one plate, the spring member onthat plate having an arcuate shape on its edge having shoulders at itsends, and a fixed stop in position to be engaged by said shoulders tolimit its oscillating motion.

4. In a lock switch, the combination or" a casing, an insulating memberinside said casing, oscillatable about the center of the casing, atumbler look inside said oscillating member, and a plate operated by thelock and having circuit connecting members thereon. V

5. in a lock switch, the combination of a casing having a fiat endprovided with arouate slots, an oscillating member outside said endhaving projections passing through the slots and oscillatable about thecenter of the casing, an insulating plate inside'the casing secured tosaid projections and having spring circuit connecting members thereon, atumbler look inside said oscillating memher and an inner plate operatedby the lock and having circuit connecting members thereon independent ofthe first named connecting members.

6. In a lock switch, the combination of a casing having a fiat endprovided with arcuate slots, an oscillating member outside said endhaving projections passing through the slots and oscillatable about thecenter of the casing, an insulating plate inside the easing secured tosaid projections,and spring circuit connecting members thereon.

7. In a switch of the character described,

the combination with an insulating plate having terminals thereonarranged in two concentric series, of two concentric independentlyoscillatable insulating plates, each having spring members thereon, eachspring member having two free ends adapted to engage certain terminalsof one series, and a name plate fastened to the face of the switch, withmarkings etched thereon.

8. In a switch of the character described, the combination with aninsulating plate having terminals thereon arranged in two concentricseries, of two concentric independently oscillatable insulating plates,each having spring members thereon, each spring member having two freeends adapted to enga e (-ertain terminals of one series, the termlnalblock being in two parts fastened together, the inner part containingall the necessary contacting points, and the outer part covering allbut, and exposing only, the wire terminals.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto aflixed our signatures.

JASON C. STEARNS. FRED A. CULVER.

